Container and blank with pouring means



Jan. 21, 1958 F. E. MAKUTA CONTAINER AND BLANK WITH POURING MEANS FiledNov. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m K A .H wa n3 0 w 2 Sheets-f-SheeInventor FRANCIS E. MAKUTA F; E. MAKUTA CONTAINER AND BLANK WITH POURINGMEANS Jan. 21, 1958 Filed Nov. 18, 1952 United States Patent GfiicePatented Jan. 21, 1958 CONTAINER AND BLANK WITH POURING MEANS Francis E.Maknta, Hazleton, Pa., assignor to Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 18, 1952, SerialNo. 321,217

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-528) The present invention relates generally to thepackaging field, and more specifically to fluid-tight containersfashioned from sheet material such as paperboard or the like. Suchcontainers are particularly well adapted for the packaging of milk andother comestibles but may, of course, be employed for packaging a widevariety of fluent substances.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a container of thecharacter set forth and fashioned from paperboard or the like, suchcontainer having fluid dis pensing means adapted to pour and to cut offeffectively without permitting the poured fluid to dribble down theoutside of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of theforegoing type and wherein the dispensing means has a manipulableelement adapting it to prevent dribble during pouring and cut-off,irrespective of the fluid level in the container or the size or rate offlow of the poured stream.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blank for a containerof the character set forth and which will include structural featurescapable of implementing the objectives just recited.

Still another object is to provide a container and blank of the type setforth and which will be susceptible of economical manufacture at a costcomparing favorably with that required for paperboard containerspresently available to the trade.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description, taken along with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative container embodyingthe present invention and being in initially filled and sealed conditonready for use by the consuiner.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the container of Fig. 1after its lift tab has been raised, thereby exposing the pouring openingof the container.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container as shown inFig. 2, but after the pouring lip has been folded into its operativeposition.

Figs. 4, 5, 5a and 6 are enlarged fragmentary perspective viewsdetailing certain preferred forms of the pouring opening lip in theposition as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken through thecenter of the container of Fig. l displaying the pouring operationdiagrammatically.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the inside face of the blank from which acontainer embodying the invention may be formed.

Fig. 9 is a detailed plan view of the pouring opening inner ply with alip construction similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the glue patch sectionintended for securing the pouring opening inner ply shown in Fig. 9 tothe blank shown in Fig.

'8 in the course of fabrication.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andillustrative constructions, certain preferred embodiments have beenshown in the drawings and will be described below in considerabledetail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention tolimit the invention to the specific forms of containers, blanks, orpouring openings disclosed, but on the contrary, it is intended to coverall modifications, alternative construc tions, and equivalents fallingWithin the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

Illustrative of the type of package in which the invention finds major,but not exclusive, utility, there is shown in Fig. l a container 10particularly well adapted for the packaging of milk. The container 10may be fabricated from paperboard or other bendable sheet material andis self-sustaining in shape, being coated or impregnated withappropriate material such as parafiin to render it fluidtight andnonabsorbent. In its finished form, the container 10 comprises a tubularbody defined by four side panels 11 and closed at its lower end by abottom closure (not shown) which may be of any desired construction. Atits upper end, the tubular body of the container 10 is closed by thefamiliar gable top 12.

A lift tab 14 is preformed in the outer ply of the container 10 bylaterally spaced severance lines 13, which run down one of the roofpanels 15 of the gable top 12 and extend down into the adjacentunderlying side panel 11, terminating at a finger recess 16. Theseverance lines 13 converge toward the finger recess 16, resulting inthe formation of a relatively narrow lower end on the tab 14. This lowerend presents a finger piece 18 which may be hinged to the remainder ofthe lift tab along a score line 19. The finger piece 18 may be readilyloosened and gripped by the user and, when subjected to an upward pull,causes progressive severance of the lift tab 14 from the outer ply ofthe container until the tab becomes fully elevated to permit dispensingof the contents of the container. The lift tab of course remainsconnected to the outer ply of the container along a crease or hinge linesituated adjacent the central laminar rib 20 of the gable top.

Turning now to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the construction of thecontainer 10 begins with a cut and scored blank 21 of paperboard orother appropriate sheet material. Such stock is of proper thickness andweight to be bendable during forming of the container butself-sustaining in shape after the container has been erected, filledand closed. The blank 21 is divided into four rectangular side panels 11which form the side panels of the container 10. In this instance, theblank 21 is provided along its lower edge with bottom closure flaps 22which are adapted to be folded into overlapping relation and sealed todefine the bottom of the container. The top portions of the blank 21comprise two generally rectangular panels 15 which ultimately define theroof panels of the gable top 12, and two angularly scored panels 17which include the fractional panels infolded to define the ends of thegable top 12. The top portion of the blank 21 also includes those panelswhich ultimately define the central laminar rib 20, including thetuck-in flap 24 and the overlapping outer flap 24a. These rib definingpanels are usually mechanically secured in position by a staple 25running through the central rib 20. At one end, the blank 21 is providedwith a fractional panel known as a glue flap 26. The latter is used tosecure the opposite edges of the blank together in overlapping relationso as to arrange the side panels 11 in a hollow tube which defines thetubular body of the container.

While coating or impregnating of' thecontainer 10 may be effected atvarious stages during its fabrication, it has been found convenient toperform this step after the blank has been erected and the bottomclosure has been made, but prior to completion of the top closure.

' bonded or secured to the inside face of the lifttab in any suitablemanner. The pouring: opening 29 is formedin an inner ply 30 bonded tothe roof panel 15 and underlying side panel 11 in the outer ply of thecontainer. In the present instance, the pouring opening ply 30isfashioned as a separate patch (Figs. 7 to 9) adapted to be adhesivelysecured to the blank 21 over an area or glue spot 32 surrounding thelift tab 14 and finger recess 16, as indicated in Fig. 10. The pouringopening ply 39 is also provided with a transverse score line orperforation line 31 which coincides substantially with the score line 34separating the roof panel 15 from the underlying side panel 11,permitting easy folding of the pouring opening ply upon formation andclosing of the gable top 12.

It has been found that, when pouring from a container of the generaltype disclosed herein, the greater the pouring velocity of the fluidbeing removed the cleaner the separation will be when pouring isinitiated and when pouring is cut off. This effect is generally observedirrespective ofthe size of the poured stream. A further factor to beconsidered is the adhesive relationship. between the fluid being pouredand the surface over which it flows. When the force of gravity on thepoured stream at the point; of separation from the containerbecomesgreater than the adhesive relationship between the poured fluid and theadjacent surface, of the container ,at that point, pouring can beinitiated without dribbling and a clear separation can be elfected whenpouring is cut off. When, on the other hand, the adhesive force attheseparation edge is greater than that of gravity, a certain amount ofthe poured fluid will tend to dribble .down the side of the containerboth at, initiation andat cut-off of the pouring operation.

Provision is made for imparting. dribble-free pouring characteristicsto-the container 10, enabling the same to pour satisfactorily regardlessof the size of the poured stream, the level of fluid within thecontainer, or the degree of inclination given the container toinitiatepouring. Thisis accomplished by formingin the pouring opening.ply 36a ,manipulable pouring lip 35, the latter being situatedimmediately adjacentthe pouring opening 29 and initially disposed in.coplanar relation with the ply 3t 7 The lip 35 is integral with ,thepouring opening ply 30 and has at least three sides ldefined in thestock of the ply 30 by precutting, perforating or equivalent operations.,VThus upon elevation of the lift tab 14, the pouring lip 35' becomesaccessible and can readily be down-folded or reversely bent by the user,shifting from a dormant position coplanar with the ply 30 (Fig. 2.) to'an operative position wherein its freeedge overhangs the finger recessand face of the underlying side panel 11 (Figs. 3 and 7). In thisposition, the pouring lip 35 defines a surface 40 which might beconsidered .to be an eave for the underlying side panel 11. Separationedge 38, which is actually the free edge of thepour-ing lip 35, isspaced sufficiently far from the surface of thesidepanel 11, andtheinclined underlying surface ofthe lip .35v is so oriented relative tothe plane of the underlyingside panel 11, that thepossibility of havingadhesion forces sufficjiently great to lead pouredfluid from the edge'38 down the side 11 of the containeriis eliminated. I

,Referring to Fig, 77-,which' shows thecontainer in pouring position, it:will be perceivedthat the pouringlip the case if the pouring lip 35were to occupy its dormant position; By the same token,it-will beappreciated that at the hinge line of the pouring lip, which actuallydefines crest 39 of a pouring weir, the velocity of the fluidimmediately adjacent the weir crest 39 is considerably less than it isat the surface of the stream. The substantial rate of flow and relativeuniformity of velocity at the p ration ed e :38 of th Pe nsl p. maybeebte even when initially dispensing from a container in completelyfilled condition. As more and morefluid is dispensed from thecontainenthe longer dimension ofthe latter becomes oriented more closelytoward thehorizpntal and pouring conditions become even better. i

Turning now .to the-pouring. lip perse and itsrelation to the pouringopening ply, it willbe noted upon reference to Figs. 4 and 9 that thelip 35 has three edges initially defined in the ply 30 as by means ofsuitable incisions. opposite ends of the lip 35 are interrupted so as toleave a pair of severable ties or bridges41 adapted to hold the lip 35indorrnant position coplanar with the ;ply 30 until turned ,down by theuser. Such incisions, which may conveniently be pre-cut extensions ofthe lateral edges 37 of the pouring opening,,preferably terminate shortof the transverse score line 31 on the pouring openp ,3 between theirlowerends and the transverse vscoreline T-his .nwr senei e h i ationshibetwee h s parat on. ed e. .8 a d hee ieee t; linder nssisi panel 11.Terminating the lip-defining ineisions sl ort f the sca e-li e; isals dsira le b cau itresul n cre tion. ofqaapa a fiu-sealede 45 adj cent thlower portion of theypouring opening 29. and which comprises a part ofthe continuousparaffin seal initially surv rounding the .pouring opening.for .fluidaretaining ,and sanitary purposes.

Referring next .to Figs. :5 and 5a," it will benoted that the pouringlip 35 there. illustrated resembleszthe one just described but has itsopposite ends initially. defined by perforation lines 42. When turneddown -bythe user, the lip 35 simply parts-fromthestock of the ply '30along the perforation lines-42. InFig. 5a, the lip 35 may optionally beprovided with a central score or perforationline 42a. After thelip has'been placed -into operative position by the user, it may be creasedsomewhat along the line 42a so as to give it a spout-like configuration.

In Fig. 6, the lip 35 has its defined byuninterrupted incisions '44. Thestifiness of the stock in the pouring opening ply '30, supplemented bythe adhesion of the paraffin coating which fills the incisions 44, arerelied upon to maintain the lip 35 in dormant position p 'e to i i itien he .d spen i i ep a i as nd eatedui ith iews ju tenss s s. l ig- 7,it wi l bea ete that t e 129. v. ingl p .3 s dep t b ds-r a v .tosth poun op n n plv' Siten forced down by the user. However, it is desirable.to avoid the use ofa score line ,or other foldingguide at the hingepoint because nightrender the -lip 35 susceptible of beinginadvertently. torn off when gripped by. the user. r

A container embodying the present invention maycbe prepared for pouringin but twds'teps. First the popring opening 29 iscsposed by grasping thefinger piece 1 8 and pulling nip on the lift tab 14 until the pouringopening is completely exposed, as shown in Eiga).

Second, the pee in l p 35 ihe de n fe ed rem .35 whenrin operativeposition produces an almost vertical dormant position into 3 itsoperativeposition asshown in Fig. 3. This may be accomplished bygrasping the lip 35 either between the lingers or -by-the use ,of any.

the apnreplia means .--.f or e di g substantially through at the initialline. 1 Rouringimay thereupon be effectively accomplished by incliningthe container to -.the;desi:ced. angle... r

In thisinstance, .the incisions defining the and as 'sr ete length thehe distan I claim as my invention:

1. In a container of paperboard or the like having a top panel and anadjacent underlying side panel, the combination comprising a sanitarilyprotected ply having a pouring opening therein, said opening beingsituated in the top panel, an outer ply fixed to said sanitarilyprotected ply and having a lift tab initially overlying the pouringopening and the marginal areas of said sanitarily protected ply sealingthe pouring opening, means defining a pouring lip integral with saidsanitarily protected ply and situated adjacent the pouring opening andentirely within the perimeter of the top panel, said pouring lip havinga dormant position coplanar with said sanitarily protected ply,severable ties yieldably retaining said pouring lip in said dormantposition coplanar with said sanitarily protected ply, said pouring lipbeing manipulable by the user from said dormant position into asubstantially reversely bent operative position overlying saidsanitarily protected ply upon elevation of said lift tab, said pouringlip in said operative position having a free end overhanging beyond theplane of the side panel and projecting outside the perimeter of the toppanel.

2. In a blank of paperboard or the like intended for fabrication into asealed container having side, top and bottom panels, the combinationcomprising a partially severable lift tab extending upwardly from a sidepanel and terminating in the adjacent top panel, an attached innerpouring ply having a pouring aperture therein and a transverse scoreline for locating said pouring ply with relation to the junction betweensuch top and side panels, a manipulable pouring lip coplanar with saidpouring ply and defined at its ends by separation lines extendingdownwardly from the lower portion of said pouring aperture butterminating without crossing said transverse score line and means foryieldably maintaining said pouring lip in coplanar relation with saidpouring ply prior to manipulation of said lip by the user.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,263,957 Sooy Nov. 25, 1941 2,288,914 Monroe July 7, 1942 2,459,130Jones Jan. 11, 1949 2,531,630 Jones Nov. 28, 1950 2,601,399 Jones June24, 1952

